Saki Akai Gets Emotional Goodbye From TJPW

Saki Akai says goodbye to Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling ahead of her retirement on November 12th

By: James Carlin

Saki Akai‘s last match in Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling took place today at TJPW City Circuit ’23 at Shinjuku FACE. Whilst Akai and Yuki Kamifuku facing off against Hyper Misao and Rika Tatsumi was scheduled to be her final bout, the joshi tradition of the retiring wrestler taking on the whole company’s roster continues as Saki Akai wrestled an impromptu 1 vs. 23 match that included Yuka Sakazaki doing Shoko Nakajima’s 619, as Nakajima couldn’t attend, as well as cameos from former TJPW wrestlers Akane Miura and Nodoka Tenma and TJPW’s general manager Tetsuya Koda himself.

Misao tried to have Akai read a personal letter out loud to the audience, only for the note to be completely blank and for Misao to try and roll Akai up, but Akai reversed it into a triangle that Misao tapped out to immediately, ending Akai’s final match in Tokyo Joshi.

Following the match, Misao gave an emotional speech to Akai: “Now it’s really over. Thank you for accepting our feelings that we couldn’t put into words. Your retirement road is beautiful like you and I tried to accept that fact that you’re retiring but I couldn’t. I avoided thinking about it until this match today.

But now that I had this match, I know now that it isn’t over; your philosophy and style will continue to live inside us. This is your last TJPW match, but you will always be with us. You will always be our big sister. Thank you for everything.” h/t: Mr HAKU / Kotatsu Studios.

Akai mentions that she debuted in the same year that Tokyo Joshi first started, meaning that she was in the same debuting class as the founding members of the company and that she has watched TJPW grow from its very beginning to the international name that it has become. “Rookies, be mindful and responsible in growing TJPW. Veterans, it’s okay to seek help at times. Don’t be afraid to get support. Everyone, stay beautiful, strong, and noble. Take TJPW to heights that no one has ever imagined of.” h/t: Mr HAKU / Kotatsu Studios.

Akai’s last match will be at DDT Ultimate Party 2023, teaming with fellow Eruption members Yukio Sakaguchi and Hideki Okatani against Naomichi Marufuji, Kazusada Higuchi and Miyu Yamashita.

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